April Freshwater Lure of the Month: Bomber Model A

April Freshwater Lure of the Month: Bomber Model A

If you were limited to only one crankbait, you'd do well making it a Model A Bomber ^TM. A staple crankbait with avid fishermen for decades, the Model A's timeless design, workhorse durability and true running dependability, define the meaning of a "Go To Fishing Lure."

Millions of anglers rely on the Bomber Model A to catch a variety of fish, from largemouth and smallmouth bass to white bass, walleye, stripers and more. With a variety of sizes and running depths, there’s a Model A for every situation. For bass, cast and crank windy points and brushy flats. Troll productive areas for walleyes, white bass and other gamefish.

Crankbaits come and go but few plastic crankbaits have had the run the model A baits have. In a variety of sizes and variations the standard model A is still as popular as ever. They aren't as flashy as newer crankbaits but they are durable, cheap, and they still catch fish. If you were starting a crankbait box you could do alot worst than throwing in a couple model A baits. The 7a is the longtime favorite but all the models catch fish. 

For years the 7a was one of KVDs favorite crankbaits but he switched not because they quit catching fish but because of new sponsors. Because they are so cheap and durable you can thrown model As around cover alot easier on the pocketbook. And rocks and grass are where they excel I think. The hooks are better than ever and the colors improve every year. While it may not be the bait that wows your buddies the Model A baits may be the ones you throw the most. - 

February Freshwater Fly of the Month: Elkwing Caddis Olive

February Freshwater Fly of the Month: Elkwing Caddis Olive

The Elk Wing Caddis is one of the most versatile caddis created. Almost every river has blanket hatches of this must have bug. 

The elk wing caddis dry fly is one of the most popular and proven dry flies in the world. The dry fly pattern imitates the natural caddis, one of the most prolific insects across North America that trout feed on. The elk hair caddis can fish like conventional dry flies, as well as be "skated" across the top of the water to attract feeding trout. 

Invented on the West Coast by Al Troth, the elk hair caddis has over the years proved to be an un-paralleled fish catcher. In the tradition of all great flies its "why didn't I think of that" quality has reinforced its reputation and resulted in a continual presence on practically every trout bearing water in the world.  The best way to think of this fly is as a skater. This is because it is the perfect fly for imitating both the newly emerged caddis flies' maiden voyage (or, the take off), and also the skittering female dropping her payload of eggs under the evening sky.

Tips to fish:

When fishing a caddis hatch the Elk Hair Caddis should be fished using standard dry fly tactics. If you suspect fish are taking spent adults aim for a drag free drift, but if you suspect the fish are after newly hatched adults (look out for slashing rises) employ some judicious twitching of your artificial. Standard presentations will work when using the Elk Hair Caddis as a searching pattern.

References:

http://www.sexyloops.com/flytying/elkhaircaddis.shtml

www.FishingEnthusiast.com

February Saltwater Lure of the Month: Storm Wildeye Sardine

February Saltwater Lure of the Month: Storm Wildeye Sardine

Part of Storm's "Award Winning" WildEye line of soft swimbaits, the Live Goby features I-Bolt System holographic WildEyes, high quality VMC needle point back hooks, tough yet soft body materials and internal weights for superior swimming actions.  

The Live Goby is designed to fish near bottom structure and mimics the slow, wandering swimming action of the real fish. In-shore fisherman will find this bait perfcet for a wide variety of saltwater gamefish.

The WildEye® Live series is the most realistic series of baits available. Internally weighted body creates an incredibly life-like swimming. The realistic color patterns and shape of the bait is backed up with 3-D holographic WildEye®, holographic swimmin’ flash foil and a tough yet soft outer body. This swimbait has a sardine body and color pattern and a back VMC® needle point hook.

• Natural color patterns & shapes
• Holographic 3-D WildEye®
• Life-like swimming action
• Holographic swimmin' flash foil
• Tough, yet soft outer body
• Weighted internally, for ideal swimming action

Also included in this month's box is a beautiful Fish Hook Hat Clip.  This Hook Clip will serve perfectly as a stylish tie clip or for clipping on the bill of your hat. Let people know you are a dedicated angler. Now you can think about fishing all the time, day or night!  

February Freshwater Lure of the Month: River2Sea Bling SpinnerBait

February Freshwater Lure of the Month: River2Sea Bling SpinnerBait

Designed by professional angler Ish Monroe, this spinnerbait features a custom Big Bite black nickel hook, with light wire and ultralight double-willow blades tuned for maximum vibration. Its liquid chrome paint scheme and hand-tied skirt add to its fish-attracting appeal.

Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif. has earned a name as one of the best shallow water anglers in the sport of bass fishing.  Monroe is known for his ability with a Punchin rod, a Frog rod and when shallow crankbaits and spinnerbaits are the ticket. Monroe remains one of the few professional anglers who fish the Bassmaster Elite Series, and as many FLW Tour events as he can.

River2Sea’s new Bling spinnerbait; designed by Ish Monroe, is built to attract the right kind of bites. Bling is constructed on a light wire frame for maximum vibration and uses River2Sea's new ultrathin blades and a premium ball bearing swivel for easier rotation at slower speeds.

Bling is offered in 3⁄8 and 1⁄2–ounce models and features a new flared head design to help balance the lure during retrieve and to help it deflect off of obstructions. Its new custom Liquid Chrome paint job shines as well.  Bling will be dressed with a hand tied silicone skirt and will be available in six colors with three different blade combinations; double willow, tandem Colorado ⁄ Willowleaf combination and a Colorado ⁄ Indiana setup for dirtier water.  Get a little Bling in your life.

Features:

• Tuned for maximum vibration and flash

• Liquid chrome paint scheme

• Big Bite black nickel hook

• Hand-tied skirt

Other Sizing options and colors available:Sizes: 3/8 oz., 1/2 oz.
Colors: (001)Powder, (002)Lemonade Twist, (003)I Know It, (004)Flo,(005)Abalone Shad.

January Freshwater Fly of the Month: Blue Winged Olive Fly

January Freshwater Fly of the Month: Blue Winged Olive

Any good angler knows that it is important to know the tendencies and seasons of the flies in the area they fish in.  But the blue wing olive mayflies are a unique fly, because you will find them at almost every month of the year, wherever you are.  The blue wing olive mayfly looks like a tiny, greenish gray sailboat on the water to the human eye, but to the trout - that sailboat looking fly with wings that are light gray to black looks like lunch! The olives typically hatch and then swim to the surface.  After swimming to the surface, they split their nymphal shells and emerge as winged insects.  The blue wing olives are prime trout food from fall through spring. This gives anglers a distinct advantage over other anglers, as the flies are a sure shot at rising fish at almost any time of the day (particularly effective during the warmest part of the day).

The key to success is to wade as closely as possible to the rising fish, and then target individual fish (as opposed to shooting into a group of the risers).  By watching the individual fish, you can see what stage of the hatch the fish is keying on and where in the current he is feeding.  Be patient! With careful observation, you can pick out the largest fish in the pool and then specifically target it.  Try to position yourself slightly upstream and across so that you can make a fly first downstream presentation to the trout.  

The Blue Wing Olive Spinner Secret (from Hunting and Fishing Suite 101)

Within 24 hours, the spinners mate and fly to the river's surface to lay eggs and die. On many days, the spinners land on the water's surface at the same time the immature nymphs hatch into duns. Anglers see the upright wings of the duns - and tie on a dry fly with an upright wing.  Most anglers miss the secret part of the blue wing olive hatch. The adult blue wing olives that survive the trout fly off to streamside brush and molt into the sexually mature insect, which is called a spinner. Spinners have bright, clear wings and big eyes.  Few anglers see the spinners - with clear, almost invisible wings - sprawled flat on the surface at the same time.  But the trout - especially the bigger, warier fish - see them just fine, and they lock onto the safer, easier prey.Tie on a spinner - such as a Hackle Spinner - and watch tough trout get much easier!

Fishing Gifts for Fishing Enthusiasts!

www.FishingEnthusiast.com

January 2014 Saltwater Lure of the Month: Mirrolure

January 2014

Saltwater Lure of the Month

MIRROLURE

The MirrOlure was invented by Harold LeMaster while he was still attending high school during the depth of the Great Depression.  While out walking one afternoon, LeMaster stumbled upon his future in the form of a fallen walnut tree.  Selecting a suitable portion of the tree, LeMaster carved the first version of his MirrOlure using broken glass and scraps of sandpaper.  He brought forth one lure and then dozens more, all carved by hand from the same walnut tree.  As the good word spread about his creation demand for the MirrOlure increased.  LeMaster soon partnered with a close relative to form the L & S Bait Company.  Today, the L& S is still responsible for painstakingly manufacturing this fantastic fish-taker.

Without question, the MirrOlure enclosed was the result of a burst of inspiration from a creative mind, and its handcrafted production was a labor of love.  Much of the hands on attention to the original prototype lives on today.  The L & S Bait Company puts the MirrOlure through no fewer than twenty-seven individual checkpoints in order to assure the highest level of quality possible.  Now primarily known as a productive saltwater lure, a significant segment of the MirrOlure’s market due to the lure’s durability and versatility, many freshwater anglers have rediscovered the MirrOlure.  The MirrOlure is yet another example of a true classic lure still hard at work for today’s anglers in all types of fishing conditions.

Featured Lure: The MirrOlure

Designer: Harold LeMaster

Manufacturer: L & S Bait Company

The Saltwater Lure of the Month Club is a great gift for the loved one in your life.  Sign up the angler in your life for this great fishing gift today!

www.FishingEnthusiast.com

January Freshwater Lure of the Month: Dardevle

January 2014

Freshwater Lure of the Month:

DARDEVLE

Happy New Year Fishing Enthusiasts!

The creator of the Dardevle, Lou Eppinger, was making his living as a taxidermist in SE Michigan at the end of the 1800’s.  When Eppinger’s business hit somewhat of a slump, he decided to sell lures alongside his taxidermy services in order to help make ends meet.  As the tackle end of his business grew, Eppinger soon began to experiment with lures of his own design.  While on a fishing trip in the Canadian woods, Eppinger took along a spoon he had handcrafted back in Michigan.  He was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Eppinger particularly liked the longdistances he could cast his lure—even into a stiff wind.  On top of everything, Eppinger’s prototype actually caught more fish than any other bait he fished on the trip.

After quite a bit of tinkering, Eppinger’s first lure made its official American debut in 1912.  Initially Eppinger called his lure the Osprey.  Eight years later, Eppinger changed the name of his wonder-lure to the Dardevle after the Marines, who had been nicknamed the “Dare Devils” for their feats of bravery in the first World War.  Today, Eppinger’s trademark red-and-white stripped Dardevle is perhaps the most recognizable and omnipresent lures ever to hit the fishing scene.  Alongside his trademark paint scheme, anglers will find dozens of color and size combinations.  Although all the colors have their fans, FE is partial to the classic red-and-white.

Featured lure: Dardevle

Created by: Lou Eppinger

Created: c. 1912

Manufacturer: Eppinger Manufacturing Company

Type: Spoon

Technique:

While this lure is not considered to be the most versatile of all lures, as many anglers will confirm, it’s highly effective when others simply are not.  The Dardevle can be relied upon to be a good selection for a broad number of species when fished with a consistent, moderate to rapid retrieve.  If you haven’t used the Dardevle while trolling, you could be in for a surprise.